'When I came out of prison, four months ago, Nacro gave me a chance. They didn’t judge me, they recognised that I wanted to change and they helped me to help myself.

'I left home at 14. I was living in different hostels and on friends’ floors. I stopped going to school, I was drinking, fighting and getting into trouble. I’d started on a downward spiral and I ended up in prison. That’s where I found Nacro.

'When I got a place in a Nacro shared house a few days after I was released, things started to change. Now I’m living in a flat supported and managed by Nacro. They’re helping me get into work.

Give something back

I got involved with the Nacro annual review because I wanted to give something back. It’s been brilliant to travel around the country, visiting projects. I’ve met people facing all sorts of different problems – trouble at home, nowhere to live, people in custody or needing a job – and they’re all getting the help they need from Nacro.

'I’ve talked to young people in the same situations I’ve been in. With Nacro they’re in exactly the right place if they want help to change. That’s the thing with Nacro, if you are willing to help yourself they will be there to support you.

'It was great to meet Paul McDowell, Nacro’s new chief executive. I think he’s going to do great things for the organisation and he brings good experience as a prison governor. As I know from my support worker, Michelle, you’ve got to be a certain type of person to work for Nacro: patient, honest, hard working and dedicated. They’re not just nine-to-five people, they’re always there to help.

'Wherever I’ve been for this review – Kent, Bradford, Manchester, London – the young people I’ve met have all said the same thing: if it wasn’t for Nacro, they’d be doing things they shouldn’t be doing. I would never have dreamt of doing anything like this before, but I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity. I’ve met people I’d never have met, been to places I’d never been. But most importantly I’ve seen what Nacro is all about and how it really works to change lives.'